Plant regulatory elements and methods of use thereof

1. A recombinant polynucleotide comprising a heterologous transcribable polynucleotide molecule operably linked to a regulatory element polynucleotide, wherein the regulatory element polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polynucleotide having at least 95 percent sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 and having regulatory activity;

(b) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12; and

(c)

(d) a functional fragment comprising at least 100 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 12, wherein the nucleic acid sequence has regulatory activity.

2. The recombinant polynucleotide of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant polynucleotide further comprises a polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, or 3.

3. A DNA construct comprising a heterologous transcribable polynucleotide molecule operably linked to a regulatory element polynucleotide, wherein the regulatory element polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polynucleotide having at least 95 percent sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, having regulatory activity;

(b) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12; and

(c)

(d) a functional fragment of at least 100 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 12 having regulatory activity.

4. The DNA construct of claim 3 , further comprising a polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, or 3.

5. The DNA construct of claim 3 , wherein the heterologous transcribable polynucleotide molecule is a gene of agronomic interest.

6. The DNA construct of claim 5 , wherein the heterologous transcribable polynucleotide molecule is a gene capable of providing herbicide resistance in plants.

7. The DNA construct of claim 5 , wherein the heterologous transcribable polynucleotide molecule is a gene capable of providing plant pest control in plants.

8. A heterologous cell stably transformed with the DNA construct of claim 3 .

9. A transgenic plant or plant cell stably transformed with the DNA construct of claim 3 .

10. The transgenic plant or plant cell of claim 9 , wherein the transgenic plant or plant cell is a dicotyledon plant or plant cell.

11. The transgenic plant or plant cell of claim 9 , wherein the transgenic plant or plant cell is a monocotyledon plant or plant cell.

12. A seed of the transgenic plant of claim 9 , wherein the seed comprises the DNA construct.

13. A method for expressing a polynucleotide in a plant, said method comprising introducing into a plant cell a recombinant heterologous polynucleotide, said recombinant heterologous polynucleotide comprising a regulatory element operably linked to a heterologous transcribable polynucleotide molecule, wherein said regulatory element is selected from the group consisting of:

a. a nucleotide sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12;

b. a nucleotide sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 12 having regulatory activity; or

c. a nucleotide sequence comprising a functional fragment of at least 100 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 12, wherein the nucleotide sequence has regulatory activity in a plant cell.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes a gene product that is involved in organ development, stem cell development, cell growth stimulation, organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis initiation and development of the apical meristem.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said heterologous polynucleotide is an endogenous gene of the plant.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the heterologous polynucleotide encodes a gene product that confers drought tolerance, cold tolerance, herbicide tolerance, pathogen resistance, or insect resistance.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein said plant is a dicot.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein said plant is a monocot.